Global Story & Talent Producer in London

Location: London, UK
Department: CNN Create
Contract: PAYE
Working pattern: Five days per week
Contract dates: November 2026 to September 2027

Department Overview

Create is the branded content studio for CNN International. We tell authentic stories that inspire and engage our audience. Through a data-informed process, we deliver award-winning, relevant content to our audience of influential decision makers. At the heart of our content are human-led stories, driven by inspiring, relevant and expert talent from around the world.

Role Overview

The Global Story & Talent Producer will work across Create’s strategy and production teams to develop compelling creative approaches, identify and secure talent, and support campaigns from pre-sale through delivery.

This is a global creative producing role with particular strength in story development, casting, talent relationships and negotiation. Working as part of the Brand Studio team, the role will combine creative development and writing with hands-on production and strategy support.

The Global Story & Talent Producer will work closely with Content Strategists, Digital and Creative Producers, and relevant discipline leads to shape strong human-led stories, identify the right contributors and talent, conduct pre-interviews, and manage talent relationships from initial approach through contracting and campaign delivery.

Alongside live pre-sale and post-sale assignments, the role will help develop the studio’s wider talent strategy, processes and global network. The balance of responsibilities will flex week to week in line with business priorities.

When dedicated casting, story and talent activity is lower, the Global Story & Talent Producer will be expected to work directly with the Create Production team on creative film production and development. This may include originating and developing film ideas, researching and shaping stories, writing treatments and scripts, supporting pitches, producing shoots, coordinating contributors and production activity, managing talent on set, and supporting projects through edit, review and delivery.

The role may also provide practical strategy support across priority briefs, including research and insight gathering, campaign narratives, creative territories, proposal content, audience and talent recommendations, renewals, and preparation for internal reviews and client presentations.

Role Responsibilities

• Work with Content Strategists during pre-sale and Digital and Creative Producers during post-sale to shape creative approaches and identify suitable stories, contributors and talent.
• Develop clear, compelling creative and written responses for briefs, proposals and productions, including creative treatments, talent rationales, story outlines, interview approaches and other proposal or production materials.
• Lead casting research, pre-interviews and talent assessment, finding compelling real people, experts and named talent who meet the creative, editorial, budget, timeline and client requirements.
• Act as the main point of contact for talent and their representatives, managing relationships from discovery and onboarding through contracting, production, launch and close-out.
• Lead talent communication, fee and usage negotiations, due diligence, onboarding and contracting, working with Operations and Production Management to secure appropriate terms.
• Maintain accurate campaign talent records and contribute to the studio’s long-term talent strategy, network and processes, ensuring relevant teams retain knowledge of previous approaches, bookings and client considerations.
• Attend client meetings and calls where required, and equip Strategists and Producers to present talent recommendations clearly and confidently.
• When casting, story and talent demand is lower, embed with the Create Production team to support creative film development and delivery, taking ownership of agreed work across ideation, research, treatments and scripts, pitch support, shoot production, interviews, contributor coordination, post-production and delivery.
• Provide flexible strategy support across priority briefs as required, including research and insights, campaign narratives, creative territories, proposal and pitch-deck writing, audience and talent recommendations, renewal development, and preparation for internal reviews and client presentations.
• Deliver strong story, talent, strategy and production support in line with campaign objectives, budgets, timelines and changing business priorities.

Essential Skills and Experience

• 10+ years’ experience in creative content production, with casting and talent management forming a significant part of the role.
• Strong creative writing skills, with experience developing treatments, story outlines, talent rationales, interview approaches or related proposal and production materials.
• A strong creative film-producing background, with experience contributing across development, pre-production, shoots and post-production.
• The ability to move confidently between story and talent work, hands-on support for the Create Production team, and defined strategy assignments as priorities shift.
• Proven ability to find real people, experts and named talent in specific locations, with compelling stories and strong on-screen potential where required.
• Sound creative judgement and an understanding of how talent supports the story, audience and objectives of a campaign.
• Experience liaising with agents, talent representatives and high-profile talent, including negotiating fees, usage and contractual terms.
• Experience navigating talent acquisition for commercially funded, sensitive or highly confidential campaigns.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively across strategy, creative, production, operations and sales teams.
• Fluent in English.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience working across a range of content sectors and international markets.
• General knowledge of Adobe Creative Platforms and other production applications.

Key Competencies

• Communication: Strong communication skills that build relationship value with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure delivery of desired results.
• Creativity: Consistent dedication to high artistic standards and innovative approaches for branded content output.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation among peers and contributes to a positive team culture.
• Learning Agility: A passion for staying aware of and discerning market trends and needs, with the flexibility to engage with new approaches.
• Prioritisation: Detail-oriented and organised, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Additional Information

This role will require flexibility with working hours. Travel may be required for particular projects.

Please note: This is a temporary role recruited on behalf of Skydance. The successful candidate will be engaged via Allegis Global Solutions (AGS) and assigned to work with Skydance.